Derek Jeter wasn't the main attraction for reporters staked out at the Yankees' minor- league complex in Tampa, but he did say he's progressing well and ran outdoors Thursday for the first time in two months.

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"He's played every game for us," Girardi said before the game. "He's a little under the weather, he's got a little head cold, but it's more that I'm giving him a day because he's played every day."

Ichiro Suzuki batted leadoff and played centerfield in Gardner's stead and had one of the Yankees' two hits.

Strange play aids Yanks

The Yankees got a gift out in the third when David Murphy -- who was running on a full-count pitch to Jurickson Profar that was called ball four on a checked swing -- stepped off second base and was tagged out by Jayson Nix. After Austin Romine threw down to second, Murphy slid in and Nix tagged him, Murphy walked a few steps off second, apparently thinking he was out. "I guess that's why you come out to play, to see things you've never seen before," Lyle Overbay said.